How to Remove an Old Urine Stain Smell From the Carpet

Urine stains can leave behind strong odors long after the appearance of the urine, especially in a thick fiber such as carpeting. If you own pets or very young children, you may know firsthand the frustration of trying to remove the odors associated with urine from a carpet. Using the proper solutions, you can completely eliminate those unpleasant, lingering smells without having to replace or remove your flooring.

Things You'll Need

• Wet dry vacuum
• Black light bulb
• Lamp
• Cup
• White vinegar
• Sponge/cloth
• Paper towels
• Blow dryer
• Dehumidifier
• Pet deodorizer

Instructions

1. Roll a wet-dry vacuum slowly over the lingering urine residue. If you do not know where the original stain appeared, place a black light bulb inside a lamp or other compatible light fixture and turn it on. The black light will illuminate the source of the original stain.

2. Pour a mixture containing two parts water and one part acetic acid (white vinegar) into a cup or bowl and pour over the urine-affected area. Pour enough liquid to match the approximate size of the original urine stain, and allow it to soak into the carpet for about 10 minutes. The acid in the vinegar will destroy the remaining residue.

3. Scrub the carpet vigorously, using a sponge or soft cloth. Move your hand in a circular motion to release the remaining microscopic urine residue while setting the acid into the stain.

4. Dry your carpet. You can use cloth towels or paper towels to soak up the surface moisture, but you'll need a heat-drying source to eliminate the remaining dampness. Use a space heater or blow dryer to dry the carpet, or place a dehumidifier beside the affected area of carpet while running your home air conditioner.

5. Spray or sprinkle (depending on the product) a commercial pet deodorizer over the carpet. Even if the original stain did not come from a pet, you can further improve the smell of your carpet using this type of product. Follow the directions on the label before using.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not possess a wet-dry vacuum and cannot afford to purchase one, you can rent one from many home improvement stores.

References

• Humane Society of the United States: Removing Pet Stains and Odors
• Healthier-Cleaning-Products.com: How to Remove Dog Urine Odor From Carpet